The Mousetrap

VERA. That was the name, wasn’t it? (Looks at her challengingly.)

EMILY. You are referring to that absurd accusation about myself?

VERA. Yes.

EMILY. Now that we are alone, I have no objection to telling you the facts of the case—Indeed, I should like you to hear them. (VERA sits Left sofa) It was not a fit subject to discuss before gentlemen—so naturally I refused to say anything last night. That girl, Beatrice Taylor, was in my service. I was very much deceived in her. She had nice manners and was clean and willing. I was very pleased with her. Of course, all that was sheerest hypocrisy. She was a loose girl with no morals. Disgusting! It was some time before I found out that she was what they call “in trouble.” (Pause) It was a great shock to me. Her parents were decent folks, too, who had brought her up strictly. I’m glad to say they didn’t condone her behaviour.

VERA. What happened?

EMILY. (Self-righteously) Naturally, I refused to keep her an hour under my roof. No one shall ever say I condoned immorality.

VERA. Did she drown herself?

EMILY. Yes.

VERA. (Rises to Left.) How old was she?

EMILY. Seventeen.

VERA. Only seventeen.

EMILY. (With horrible fanaticism) Quite old enough to know how to behave. I told her what a low depraved thing she was. I told her that she was beyond the pale and that no decent person would take her into their house. I told her that her child would be the child of sin and would be branded all its life—and that the man would naturally not dream of marrying her. I told her that I felt soiled by ever having had her under my roof—

VERA. (Shuddering) You told a girl of seventeen all that?

EMILY. Yes, I’m glad to say I broke her down utterly.

VERA. Poor little devil.

EMILY. I’ve no patience with this indulgence towards sin.

VERA. (Moves up Left to above sofa.) And then, I suppose, you turned her out of the house?

EMILY. Of course.

VERA. And she didn’t dare go home—(Comes down Right to Centre) What did you feel like when you found she’d drowned herself?

EMILY. (Puzzled) Feel like?

VERA. Yes. Didn’t you blame yourself?

EMILY. Certainly not. I had nothing with which to reproach myself.

VERA. I believe—I believe you really feel like that. That makes it even more horrible. (Turns away to Right, then goes up to Centre windows.)

EMILY. That girl’s unbalanced. (Opens bag and takes out a small Bible. Begins to read it in a low mutter) “The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made—(Stops and nods her head) In the net which they hid is their own foot taken.” (ROGERS enters Left 2. EMILY stops and smiles approvingly.) “The Lord is known by the judgement He executeth, the wicked is snared in the work of his own hand.”

ROGERS. (Looks doubtfully atEMILY) Breakfast is ready.

EMILY. “The wicked shall be turned into hell.” (Turns head sharply) Be quiet.

ROGERS. Do you know where the gentlemen are, Miss? Breakfast is ready. (To above Left sofa.)

VERA. Sir Lawrence Wargrave is sitting out there in the sun. Doctor Armstrong and Mr. Blore are searching the island. I shouldn’t bother about them. (She comes in.)

EMILY. “Shall not the isles shake at the sound of the fall, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee?”

VERA. (To Left. Coldly. After waiting a minute or two) Shall we go in?

EMILY. I don’t feel like eating.

ROGERS. (ToMACKENZIE) Breakfast is ready. (Goes off Right on balcony.)

EMILY. (Opens Bible again) “Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put of their ’broidered garments.” (Enter BLORE up Right) “They shall clothe themselves with trembling, they shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee.” (Looks up and sees BLORE, but her eyes are almost unseeing.)

BLORE. (Speaks readily, but watches her with a new interest) Reading aloud, Miss Brent?

EMILY. It is my custom to read a portion of the Bible every day.

BLORE. Very good habit, I’m sure. (To down Right.)

(ARMSTRONG comes Right along balcony and in.)

VERA. What luck did you have?

ARMSTRONG. There’s no cover on the island. No caves. No one could hide anywhere.